Enclosed, hangable, folding pouch with closure

ABSTRACT

An enclosed, plastic-lined washable pouch with a closure. This pouch has the ability to fold over itself to prevent spillage of contents and it is able to open fully and the top portion will wrap around a horizontal bar to hang open so contents are easily accessible. When closed the pouch looks like an envelope from the front side and from the back is completely enclosed. When full the pouch is a compact size and when empty it will lay flat or fold up for easy storage. The pouch is made of material and lined in plastic for food storage.

RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application is a continuation-in-part application of U.S. provisional patent application, Ser. No. 60/622,554, filed Oct. 26, 2004, included by reference herein and for which benefit of the priority date is hereby claimed.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a pouch and, more particularly, to an enclosed, washable, plastic-lined pouch that folds closed or hangs open from horizontal bars.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Since individuals and families spend so much time away from home, in places like school, work or in a vehicle, there is the need to take pouches full of things with one. There are many different reasons for needing to take things with one. Some of these reasons being to nourish one when food is not readily available. While at school children bring a bag lunch. While at work one may be too busy to leave their workplace to get food. When in the vehicle there may not be a place to stop and readily get food. When traveling with children, who have limited patience, it becomes important to have food available. In all of these examples it is important to have access to food that one is able to bring from home.

Commonly used ways of bringing food along when away from home include using disposable, plastic bags that seal. Another commonly used item is the plastic bowl or cup that has a lid.

The previous items that were used to store food for travel away from home were lacking in a number of areas. One area that the disposable, plastic bags were lacking in was that they were disposable and thus wasteful and harmful to the environment. Those bags are also made from a thin plastic and once torn or ripped become a choking hazard to a young child. Those bags are also not able to attach and hang open from a horizontal bar, such as a stroller or shopping cart handle bar. In the case of the plastic bowl or cup with a lid once those have been used they are not easy to store and keep until one returns home to clean them. Also in the case of those plastic bowls or cups they are hard plastic and if thrown are potentially dangerous in the hands of young children. Those plastic bowls or cups are also not able to hang open from a horizontal bar, such as a stroller or shopping cart handle bar.

It is therefore an object of the invention to provide a container for food.

It is another object of the invention to provide a washable, reusable, enclosed container for food.

It is another object of the invention to provide a container for food that can wrap around a horizontal bar and hang open for easy access to contents.

It is another object of the invention to provide a container for food that when full will fold over itself and keep the contents from spilling out.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with the present invention, there is provided an enclosed, plastic-lined washable pouch with a closure. This pouch has the ability to fold over itself to prevent spillage of contents and it is able to open fully and the top portion will wrap around a horizontal bar to hang open so contents are easily accessible. When closed the pouch looks like an envelope from the front side and from the back is completely enclosed. When full the pouch is a compact size and when empty it will lay flat or fold up for easy storage. The pouch is made of material and lined in plastic for food storage.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

A complete understanding of the present invention may be obtained by reference to the accompanying drawings, when considered in conjunction with the subsequent, detailed description, in which:

FIG. 1 is a front view of the enclosed pouch when in the closed position;

FIG. 2 is a rear view of the pouch when in the closed position;

FIG. 3 is a front plan view of the pouch when in the fully opened position;

FIG. 4 is a rear plan view of the pouch when in the fully opened position; and

FIG. 5 is a front perspective view of the pouch when in the open position and wrapped around a horizontal bar.

For purposes of clarity and brevity, like elements and components will bear the same designations and numbering throughout the Figures.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

FIG. 1 is a front view of the enclosed Pouch 24 when in the closed position, in accordance with the invention. A modest amount of food may be kept inside the Pouch 24. The present invention is comprised of front and back sections as described when the Pouch 24 is in the fully open position as in FIG. 3 and FIG. 4.

FIG. 2 is a rear view of the Pouch 24 when in the closed position and the Pouch 24 is thus wrapped around the pouch front opening 18.

FIG. 3 is a front plan view of the Pouch 24 when in the fully opened position. The Pouch 24 can be kept open while eating lunch or having a snack to get to the pouch front opening 18. The present invention is comprised of front and back sections. Two pieces of fabric in any reasonable, soft material which may be washed can be utilized. One piece being for the front section and one piece being for the back section. One piece of pliable Plastic lining 16 which is food safe and the size being slightly more than half of the length of the front and back sections for the Pouch 24 lining, one pull tab located at the center front of the pouch front opening 18, which can be cord, ribbon or nylon webbing, and the closure, in this case hook and loop is utilized. The closure may also be snaps or buttons. Dimensions when folded closed can be 4 inches to 7 inches wide, from left side to right side and 3 inches to 5 inches tall, from top to bottom. Ideal dimensions being 6 inches wide by 4 inches tall when closed. When in the open position the Pouch 24 made to these ideal dimensions will be 11 and a half inches tall and 6 inches wide. Each of the two pieces of fabric sewn together is a long rectangular piece with a triangular point, which will create the Front flap 10, on one end and the bottom portion of the rectangle is folded up and sewn with the plastic inner lining inside to form the interior of the pouch front opening 18, the plastic inner lining is to extend up the front side partially above the pouch front opening 18 so that when the Pouch 24 is closed a seal with the plastic lining 16 and the pouch front opening 18 is created. The closure, hook and loop are sewn to the Back closure 20 area and the Closure on front side of pointed flap and pull tab on front of opening of Pouch 14 are sewn on. Alternately the fabric may be replaced with simply food safe, pliable plastic and the seams all heat sealed in which case the inner Plastic lining 16 becomes unneccesarry. If using two pieces of fabric, attach or sew the front and back sections together with the fabric wrong sides facing in. On the bottom half of the front piece, attach the Plastic lining 16 so that the lining will extend over the top of the pouch front opening 18 once the Pouch 24 is in the closed position. Then the bottom quarter section of the front piece is folded up and sides are sewn or attached at the right and the left sides to create the pouch front opening 18. In the center of this pouch front opening 18 attach the pull tab. At the top of the pointed flap on the front side attach the closure. On the back side near the bottom of the Pouch 24 attach the corresponding closure so that the closure will engage once the flap is wrapped up and around the pouch front opening 18 and come to rest on the corresponding closure on the back of the Pouch 24. In order to create interest and add style to the present invention the fabric pieces of the front and back may be divided into smaller sections and additional colors, designs or patterns may be added to comprise the total of the front and the back pieces. In addition any decoration such as patches or embroidery may also be added to enhance the basic structure of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a rear plan view of the Pouch 24 when in the fully opened position.

FIG. 5 is a front perspective view of the Pouch 24 when in the open position and wrapped around a horizontal bar allows access to the pouch front opening 18. The Pouch 24 is not only intended to keep food but it is designed to keep food within reach of toddlers or young children who may be riding in a shopping cart or stroller. When in the Open and hanging view 22 there is easy access to the contents of the Pouch 24 in the pouch front opening 18. The Front flap 10 being longer than the Pouch 24 pocket itself to allow for a seal when flap is in the wrapped closed position. And being long enough to wrap around a horizontal bar and attach the Front flap 10 inner closure to the Back closure 20 for secure hanging of the Pouch 24.

Since other modifications and changes varied to fit particular operating requirements and environments will be apparent to those skilled in the art, the invention is not considered limited to the example chosen for purposes of disclosure, and covers all changes and modifications which do not constitute departures from the true spirit and scope of this invention.

Having thus described the invention, what is desired to be protected by Letters Patent is presented in the subsequently appended claims. 

1. An enclosed, hangable, folding pouch with closure for containing snacks or personal property in an enclosed, washable pouch or by hanging open on a horizontal bar, comprising: means for easy to grasp for opening of pouch; means for keeping the pouch contents inside when pouch is closed and allows pouch to hang when pouch is open and wrapped around a horizontal bar, rigidly connected to said means for easy to grasp for opening of pouch; means for grasping the front of the pouch and pulling it open in order to grab the pouch contents with ease; means for keeping food fresh and for easy cleaning and reusing; means for keeping food or other items stored inside the pouch, suitably fastened to said means for grasping the front of the pouch and pulling it open in order to grab the pouch contents with ease; means for keeping the pouch contents inside when pouch is closed and allows pouch to hang when pouch is open and wrapped around a horizontal bar, correspondingly positioned to said means for keeping the pouch contents inside when pouch is closed and allows pouch to hang when pouch is open and wrapped around a horizontal bar; means for hanging open on a horizontal bar for easy access to contents, supportively connected to said means for keeping the pouch contents inside when pouch is closed and allows pouch to hang when pouch is open and wrapped around a horizontal bar, and supportively connected to said means for keeping the pouch contents inside when pouch is closed and allows pouch to hang when pouch is open and wrapped around a horizontal bar; and means for keeping snacks within reach and utilizing a resuseable pouch, correspondingly positioned to said means for keeping the pouch contents inside when pouch is closed and allows pouch to hang when pouch is open and wrapped around a horizontal bar, functionally constructed to said means for keeping food or other items stored inside the pouch, and sealably attached to said means for keeping food fresh and for easy cleaning and reusing.
 2. The enclosed, hangable, folding pouch with closure in accordance with claim 1, wherein said means for easy to grasp for opening of pouch comprises a soft material, pointed front flap.
 3. The enclosed, hangable, folding pouch with closure in accordance with claim 1, wherein said means for keeping the pouch contents inside when pouch is closed and allows pouch to hang when pouch is open and wrapped around a horizontal bar comprises a hook and loop closure on inner side of pointed flap.
 4. The enclosed, hangable, folding pouch with closure in accordance with claim 1, wherein said means for grasping the front of the pouch and pulling it open in order to grab the pouch contents with ease comprises a small ribbon or webbing strap pull tab on front of opening of pouch.
 5. The enclosed, hangable, folding pouch with closure in accordance with claim 1, wherein said means for keeping food fresh and for easy cleaning and reusing comprises a food safe, flexible plastic lining.
 6. The enclosed, hangable, folding pouch with closure in accordance with claim 1, wherein said means for keeping food or other items stored inside the pouch comprises an open top pouch front opening.
 7. The enclosed, hangable, folding pouch with closure in accordance with claim 1, wherein said means for keeping the pouch contents inside when pouch is closed and allows pouch to hang when pouch is open and wrapped around a horizontal bar comprises a hook and loop, snaps back closure.
 8. The enclosed, hangable, folding pouch with closure in accordance with claim 1, wherein said means for hanging open on a horizontal bar for easy access to contents comprises a hanging, convenient access to contents open and hanging view.
 9. The enclosed, hangable, folding pouch with closure in accordance with claim 1, wherein said means for keeping snacks within reach and utilizing a resuseable pouch comprises a soft, washable, hangable, reuseable, convenient, eco-friendly, space-saving pouch.
 10. An enclosed, hangable, folding pouch with closure for containing snacks or personal property in an enclosed, washable pouch or by hanging open on a horizontal bar, comprising: a soft material, pointed front flap, for easy to grasp for opening of pouch; a hook and loop closure on inner side of pointed flap, for keeping the pouch contents inside when pouch is closed and allows pouch to hang when pouch is open and wrapped around a horizontal bar, rigidly connected to said front flap; a small ribbon or webbing strap pull tab on front of opening of pouch, for grasping the front of the pouch and pulling it open in order to grab the pouch contents with ease; a food safe, flexible plastic lining, for keeping food fresh and for easy cleaning and reusing; an open top pouch front opening, for keeping food or other items stored inside the pouch, suitably fastened to said pull tab on front of opening of pouch; a hook and loop, snaps back closure, for keeping the pouch contents inside when pouch is closed and allows pouch to hang when pouch is open and wrapped around a horizontal bar, correspondingly positioned to said closure on inner side of pointed flap; a hanging, convenient access to contents open and hanging view, for hanging open on a horizontal bar for easy access to contents, supportively connected to said back closure, and supportively connected to said closure on inner side of pointed flap; and a soft, washable, hangable, reuseable, convenient, eco-friendly, space-saving pouch, for keeping snacks within reach and utilizing a resuseable pouch, correspondingly positioned to said back closure, functionally constructed to said pouch front opening, and sealably attached to said plastic lining.
 11. An enclosed, hangable, folding pouch with closure for containing snacks or personal property in an enclosed, washable pouch or by hanging open on a horizontal bar, comprising: a soft material, pointed front flap, for easy to grasp for opening of pouch; a hook and loop closure on inner side of pointed flap, for keeping the pouch contents inside when pouch is closed and allows pouch to hang when pouch is open and wrapped around a horizontal bar, rigidly connected to said front flap; a small ribbon or webbing strap pull tab on front of opening of pouch, for grasping the front of the pouch and pulling it open in order to grab the pouch contents with ease; a food safe, flexible plastic lining, for keeping food fresh and for easy cleaning and reusing; an open top pouch front opening, for keeping food or other items stored inside the pouch, suitably fastened to said pull tab on front of opening of pouch; a hook and loop, snaps back closure, for keeping the pouch contents inside when pouch is closed and allows pouch to hang when pouch is open and wrapped around a horizontal bar, correspondingly positioned to said closure on inner side of pointed flap; a hanging, convenient access to contents open and hanging view, for hanging open on a horizontal bar for easy access to contents, supportively connected to said back closure, and supportively connected to said closure on inner side of pointed flap; and a soft, washable, hangable, reuseable, convenient, eco-friendly, space-saving pouch, for keeping snacks within reach and utilizing a resuseable pouch, correspondingly positioned to said back closure, functionally constructed to said pouch front opening, and sealably attached to said plastic lining. 